Caroline Flack has defiantly hit back at her 'cougar' tag, insisting she won't let it define who she dates.

The Love Island host was 31 when she dated a 17-year-old Harry Styles, and 38 when she got engaged to a 27-year-old Andrew Brady. She was also spotted snogging AJ Pritchard, 24, at the NTAs last month.

And in a open letter penned for You magazine, Caroline says she's learned to embrace the label - and own it.

"My current status is not just that I'm a cougar, I'm Queen Cougar, which I guess is something I'm supposed to be ashamed of. But I'm just not. If 'cougar' is supposed to be some kind of insult, I'm taking control of that and turning it into a badge of honour. I'm Caroline Louise Flack and I'm Queen of the Cougars," she said.

Despite her relationships with younger men, Caroline, 39, insists a man's age has nothing to do with whether she fancies them.

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Caroline was 28 when she started seeing Andrew Brady, 27 (Image: Instagram)

Caroline and AJ got close at the National Television Awards (Image: Kelly Allen)

"I could date someone who's 20 or someone who's 104. I don't care as long as they're nice," she added.

Revealing that her niece came home from school asking what a cougar was, Caroline said the girl was shocked to learn there's no male equivalent.

Meanwhile, she also opened up about her heartbreaking split from Andrew last summer, admitting she 'absolutely loved being engaged' to him, and was devastated when she had to end it.

"It was a sad time when I broke off my engagement and I was hurting... And now I want to remember the good stuff about that relationship and to be glad that it happened. Heartbreak hasn't left me disillusioned or afraid to open my heart again."